Sundancing

Nicole Kidman walks picturesque Park City street with entourage.

Monday I attended a film finance seminar sponsored by Film Utah at Sundance Film Festival.

There are advantages to living in Park City.  I often think the industry gets it backwards.  One should live in Park City fifty weeks a year and Los Angeles two weeks!  A twenty something actor sitting beside me disagreed, saying you can feel the pulse of film in LA.  One walks into a coffee shop and hears two producers talking about what actors they are going to hire and how.”

Of course, if you have something real to offer, sometimes the industry comes looking for you.  Amor fati.

Panel at The Paint Mixer

After the seminar, I learned of a pitch competition scheduled to begin in less than a minute.  I paid the $30 entry fee and reviewed the projects I had available.  The big two I judged too big for the forum, but I put together a pitch in 15 minutes based on a story I spontaneously told my nieces and nephew a few years ago.

The moderator drew my number early.  I walked in with a smile on my chin that reached to my eyes and spread to my toes.  I warmly and sincerely greeted the panel, and told them what I could do.  Five minutes flew by fast, and it seemed they wanted to talk another ten, but rules are rules.

Afterward, a distributor on the panel stopped me and said if I had an illustration or two, I probably would have won.  She says when I have them, give her a call.

Prior to that follow up conversation, I walked outside as animated as my project.  I spoke to a friend who also participated, and let him practice his pitch on me.  I became a five minute mentor and helped him see and present his project in a new way.  He took a deep breath, threw his pitch behind closed doors, and happily reported that he incorporated some of my advice.

A few minutes later, Nicole Kidman walked by our outdoor chairs with her entourage.  Cell phone cameras rustled out of pockets like leaves in a summer breeze.  My friend, wearing a press badge, tracked down Nicole’s manager to ask if he might score an interview.  He got it.

Two victories!

Kimball Art Center, Sundance ready

After a Sundance Salad at Filmmakers Lounge and meeting the founder of IndieGoGo and his head of “movies, television, and film” at The Hub, I called it a night.

The Sun will rise to dance another day.